Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Time Spent"

(Jesus said) "But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

A month ago or so, I went to a retirement dinner for an old friend.

Between the salad and the main course, the thought occurred to me that I had never heard any retiree say, "If I had to live my life over, I think I'd stay later at work and keep on going until I drop."

On the contrary, most of the time people say, "If I had to do it over, I'd spend more time with my family. I'd get to know my kids better. I'd court my spouse more."

It's a shame that this kind of wisdom seems to come only with age.

All too often those who are younger end up putting the really important things to the side as they chase after that which is less significant.

Well, maybe "less significant" is too strong. After all, we do have to work, and we have to eat, and we need to provide shelter for ourselves and those entrusted to our care.

But if I could give you a thought for today, it would be to keep first things first in your lives. That is what Jesus did. He never forgot, not for a moment, that His job here on earth was saving souls from hell. Because of His commitment to the important, we are saved.

This is why I encourage you to hold fast and first to that which is foremost: our Lord, our family, and our country.

If we do that, then everything else will fall into place. If we do that, it seems to me we may not have many regrets when it comes time for our retirement party.

From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord and Savior, I give thanks that You kept doing the Father's will, that You kept on the path leading to salvation. Now may I, as best as I am able, live my life to glorify You and witness to others. In Your Name. Amen.

Change Their World. Change Yours. This changes everything.

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